Microplate reader proves popular choice for Heidelberg researchers developing small molecule screening assays including modulators of specific biological pathways
Researchers at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg have purchased a Tecan Safire2 microplate reader for their core facility, which develops assays for screening small molecules, including modulators of specific biological pathways.
The Safire2 has a monochromator-based detection system and its fast wavelength scanning capability and broad spectral range make it ideal for drug discovery and high throughput screening applications, as Joe Lewis, head of the chemical biology core facility, explained.
"We run a lot of fluorometric assays on the Safire2 for people that are developing new in vivo reporter tools and you often have to characterise the spectral properties of these reagents, such as the excitation and emission spectra, and try to identify the optimum parameters.
"The Safire2's double monochromators and ability to select excitation, emission and absorption wavelengths are absolutely critical features for us and were overriding reasons to buy it.
"The reader's flexibility in being able to use any fluorophores that we would like, either individually or in combination, as well as its speed and sensitivity, are also really important.
"Our only other option would be a single cuvette-based system, which is much more laborious, taking several hours to perform a wavelength scan for 96 samples, for example, instead of just five or ten minutes on the Safire2."
